Aseptic Technique and Sterile Compounding Procedures
Core Aseptic Practices
Candidates must understand hand hygiene and garbing order, disinfection of the hood and supplies, and the concept of the critical site - any exposed sterile surface or pathway, including needle bevels, vial septa, and syringe tips. Technique questions test whether you keep critical sites within first air, avoid touching them, and use proper engineering controls for hazardous drugs.
Manipulation Steps
Know the sequence for reconstitution, withdrawing from vials and ampules, using transfer devices, and the role of filters. Understand that a vial is a closed system requiring pressure equalization, and that ampules require a filter needle. Syringe and needle selection, capping, and labeling of syringes are testable. Single-dose versus multiple-dose vials and beyond-use dating after puncture matter.
Traps
Common distractors: wiping a needle with alcohol (not acceptable), reusing a syringe, or placing a syringe on the workbench surface. Questions may describe a compounder reaching across a critical site or blocking airflow with supplies. Another trap is confusing 'sterile' with 'aseptic' - technique prevents contamination but does not sterilize a nonsterile item.
Worked Example
If asked the correct order for garbing, remember: perform hand hygiene and don low-lint garb first, then apply sterile gloves last before entering the buffer area, and disinfect gloves with an appropriate agent at the appropriate contact time before compounding.